Signs

“All teaching is teaching of either things or sings, but things are learnt through signs.” — Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 

He cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree. 

He cast the tree into the waters,  

and lo, 

the waters were made sweet 

He lighted upon a place, and tarried there all night 

He took the stones found in that place,  

and put them just so for his pillows,  

and there lay down to sleep. 

But when he lifted up his eyes, they fell upon a sound, 

a ram caught in a thicket by his horns 

and he went and took the ram, 

In place of his son, 

A burnt offering… 

The wood is a sign of the cross 

The stone and beast represent Christ’s human side 

These are things, but they are 

At the same time, 

Signs of other things: 

No smoke without fire…